Kuchl, Salzburg, Austria
The Congress: making pluralist democracy grow The Council of Europe has always recognised the crucial importance of democracy at local and regional level. That is the reason for its commitment to promoting a style of local self-government that meets the needs of the citizens wherever they may be. The Congress is a political assembly composed of representatives holding an electoral mandate as members of a local or regional authority in the 46 member states of the Council of Europe. Its 306 full members and 306 substitute members, representing over 200.000 European municipalities and regions, are grouped by national delegation and by political group. Thus the Congress offers an ideal forum for dialogue where representatives of local and regional authorities discuss common problems, compare notes about their experiences and then put their points of view to the national governments. As promoter of local and regional democracy, since its inception it has initiated international treaties such as the European Charter of Local Self-Government, which has become the authoritative international treaty in this sphere. More about the organisation's activities at http://www.coe.int/t/congress/presentation/default_en.asp http://www.coe.int/aboutCoe/index.asp?page=personnalites&l=en